Key case



Nov. 12, 1957 J. F. PAINTER 2,812,606

KEY CASE Filed Sept. 21, 1954 JNVILQNTOR. Joseph F. Pamzer 18A Arm NEY United States Patent KEY t CASE Joseph F. Painter, Hubbard, Ohio Application September 21, 1954, Serial No. 457,521

4 Claims. (Cl. 40-l30) This invention relates to a key case and more particularly to a key case incorporating illuminated identifying means.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a key case incorporating illuminated identifying means.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a simple and inexpensive key case incorporating a light source and means for edge lighting an identifying strip positioned adjacent the key carrying hooks therein.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a key case having a serni-rigid supporting structure enclosed in a flexible covering and providing shape conforming characteristics with respect to keys positioned there- The key case disclosed herein comprises an improvement in the art relating to such devices and particularly in that the key case incorporates means for identifying the keys and means for illuminating the identifying means.

The key case also provides a semi-rigid structure mountin a light source and a power source therefor and provides an area for the reception of a plurality of keys in the space adjacent the light and power source. The device is also arranged so that the light source may be used to illuminate a desired area in addition to illuminating the key identifying means in the key case.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being the intention to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the key case with the cover portion open.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the key case with the cover portion open.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view taken on line 44 of Figure 2.

By referring to the drawings and Figure 1 in particular it will be seen that a key case is disclosed which comprises a semi-rigid frame member of an inverted L- shape, the longer section of which is C-shaped in cross section providing a semi-cylindrical chamber in which a miniature flashlight 11 may be positioned, the channellike shape of the frame member acting to resiliently engage the flashlight 11 so as to retain the same in desired position.

The miniature flashlight 11 is of a modified construction wherein the incandescent bulb 12 thereof, as best seen in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, is completely exposed at the one end of the flashlight 11 where it is 2 positioned adjacent a tapered end 13 of a piece of light transmitting plastic material 14 which extends at right angles to the miniature flashlight 11 and the bulb 12 thereof and transversely across the shorter portion 10A of the semi-rigid frame.

The shorter portion 10A of the semi-rigid frame 10 also carries an apertured metal channel 15 and a plurality of key engaging hooks 16 are mounted one in each of the apertures in the apertured channel 15 for universal movement with respect thereto. Keys (not shown) may be afiixed to the key engaging hooks 16 in a manner known in the art and the mounting of the hooks 16 in the apertured metal channel 15 permits the keys to be moved substantially out of the key area of the key case for their intended purpose.

It will be observed that when the keys and the hooks 16 on which they are normally positioned are within the area of the key case they overlie a flexible cover 17, one end of which passes around the 'C-shaped longer portion of the semi-rigid frame 10 and has a portion of a snap fastener 18 thereon while the other portion of the flexible cover forms a hinge flap 17A carrying the registering portion 18 of the snap fastener heretofore referred to. Keys positioned on the key engaging hook 16 thus may be enclosed by the flexible cover 17 and its flap 17A and the same will conform to the shape and bulk of the keys due to the flexibility of the material of which it is formed.

The elongated body of light transmitting plastic material 14 is secured at one of its ends by a boss 19 to the semi-rigid frame 10 and the apertured channel 15 is also secured thereto as by means of fasteners 20.

An indicia carrying card 21 is positioned in the area between the back of the section of light transmitting material 14 and the frame 10, as best seen in Figure 4 of the drawings, and the card will obviously have indicia thereon registering in position with each of the key engaging hooks 16 so that the keys on the hooks may be readily identified thereby.

The miniature flashlight 11 has a push button switch 22 on its outermost end which normally extends beyond the end of the semi-rigid frame 10 so that it may be conveniently engaged and the miniature flashlight operated. The opposite end of the flashlight 11 is positioned adjacent an end wall 23 which extends partially across the top of the key case and is apertured as at 24 in registry with the bulb 12 comprising the light source so that light may be directed thereto when the bulb is illuminated.

It will thus be seen that the key case disclosed herein incorporates a practical and eflicient structure for holding and retaining the miniature flashlight 11 in operative position with respect to the elongated portion of light conducting plastic material 14 and that the operation of the flashlight will result in edge lighting of the indicia on the card 21 beneath the plastic 14 so that the indicia may be read therethrough, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

It will occur to those skilled in the art that the semirigid frame 10 may be formed in a rectangular shape encompassing the area enclosed by the flexible cover 17 and its flap 17A or in any other desired configuration .rather than the inverted L-shape, specifically illustrated and described herein, as the function of the semi-rigid frame is to hold the miniature flashlight 11, the apertured channel 15 and the section of plastic material 14.

It will thus be seen that the key case disclosed herein meets the several objects of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

1. In a key case having a plurality of key engaging hooks mounted therein, a body member a longitudinal edge portion of which defines a channel open at one side and adapted to retain. a miniature flashlight therein, a

section of transparent 1i t conducting plastic material secured to said body In mber in right angular relation to the open portion of said channel, and an indicia carrying. card removably positioned between said plastic material and said body member, said flashlight having a bulb positioned adjacent one end of said plastic material for edge lighting said indicia carrying card therethrough.

2. The key case set forth in claim 1 wherein the end of the elongated section of plastic material adjacent the light bulb is tapered to increase the surface area thereof.

3. In a key case having key carrying devices and comprisinga semi-rigid body member, the longitudinal edge of which is curved upwardly and inwardly to form a channel having an entrance area narrower than the interior thereof, a miniature flashlight positioned in said channel and retained therein, an indicia carrying. card positioned on said body member adjacent said entrance area of said channel, and an elongated section of transparent light transmitting plastic material secured to said body memher and positioned over said indicia carrying card with an end thereof positioned adjacent the light source of said miniature flashlight.

4. The key case set forth in claim 3 wherein the end of the elongated section of light transmitting material adjacent said light source of said flashlight is tapered to increase the light capturing area thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,543,054 Bushnell June 23, 1925 1,759,782 Fox May 20, 1930 1,834,805 Roddis' Dec. 31, 1931 2,136,199 Swanson Nov. 8, 1938 2,210,048 Swanson Aug. 6, 1940 2,625,645 Crane Jan. 13, 1953 2,699,192 Poutinen Jan. 11, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 402,825 Great Britain Dec. 11, 1933 

